Mote-board attachment for cotton-gins.



J. M. WESTBROOK.

MOTE BOARD ATTACHMENT FOR COTTON GINS.

APPLICATION HLED MAR-23.1917.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

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MOTE BOARD ATTACHMENT FOR COTTON GINS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. I917- Pat elated Aug. 21, 1917.

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MOTE BOARD ATTACHMENT FOR COTTON GINS. APPLICATION FILED 1111111211911.

1 3'? ,9851 Patented Aug. 21, 1917-.

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MM ()6; m 1 X JOHN 3M. WE'STBROOK, or ATLANTA, eaten-G la.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Angf21, 1 917.

Application filed March 23, 1917. Serial no. 156,946.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN M. Wns'risnook, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of eorgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mote-Board Attachments for Ootton-Gins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cotton gins, such as saw gins, huller gins, delinters and analogous machines, and particularly to a novel form of mote board attachment therefor; and one object in view is to provide a revolving mot board which is so arranged and operable as to "eiliciently receive and eX- peditiously convey motes and other mate rial and trash separated fromcotton and. which may gravitate or collect thereon to a certain predetermined point of deposit and leave the lint cotton free to pass off through a lint flue or into other means. A further object of the invention is to provide a travcling mote board that may be readily adjusted to bring it closer to or move it farther from the gin saws or other ginning de vices without interfering with the operation of the board and advantageously affecting the ginning operation under certain conditions. A further object of the invention is to provide a traveling mote board having a non-sagging belt or apron surface and features of adjustment therefor to always maintain the requisite degree of tautne'ss of said surface on which the motes, trash or other material are deposited. A further object of the invention is to provide a traveling mote board having a belt or apron to which projecting or carrying means are attached in such manner as to positively operate in holding the motes, trash or other material on the movable surface of the board and to form a tight joint between the said projecting means and the belt or apron forming the surface of the board in such manner as to prevent the collection of dust or dirt in the joints formed between the pro jections and the remaining part of the board. A still further object of the invention is to provide a mote board that may be installed or mounted within any of the approved forms of cotton gins or ginning machines of various types to replace the ordinary forms of mote boards at a comparatively small expense and with very little mechanical addition, which would consist mainly in the operating mechanism for the board.

lVith these and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a section taken transversely Fig. 2 is av horizontal section taken through the gin immediately above the im proved mote board and showing the latter in plan view and partially broken away.

Fig. 3 is a section taken in the plane of the line 3-3, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of thearrow and illustrating parts of the improved mote board broken through.

Fig. 4c is a detail perspective View of a part of the mote board and adjusting means therefor.

apron, the conveyor chain or belt therefor, and the manner of attaching the p'rojections or conveying devices on the belt or apron.

The improved mote board has been shown applied in the drawings to the ordinary form of saw gin, but it will be understood that the moteboard embodying the features of the invention is not limited by this specific application in its use as it is intended to mount the same in any cotton ginning apparatus, hulling machine or linter wherever it may be capable of performing, its function.

The numeral 5 designates a gin frame of the usual inclosure type and having suitable supporting ends 6 with legs and feet '7, a roll box 8 to receive the cotton and provided with the usual ribs 9 with which the saws 10 of the saw cylinder cooperate. In rear of the saw cylinder is a brush cylinder 11 which is operable to relieve the saws of the lint cotton taken from the roll box and to drive it into and through a lint flue 12 from which it may pass to a condenser 13, conventionally shown to illustrate a continuous operation or whereby the lint cotton may be converted into a bat. On the top of the gin frame in rear of the roll box suitable driving mechanism is mounted and consists of shafts 14 and 15, the shaft 14 carrying sprocket wheels 16 and 17 and adapted to be driven by any suitable connection with relation to the remaining operating mechanism of the gin. The shaft 15 is provided with sprockets 18 and 19. From the sprocket 16 a chain belt 20 runs back to the operating mechanism or devices, as at 21, of the condenser, and from the sprocket wheel 17 a chain belt 22 passes rearwardlyto and over the sprocket wheel 18, the latter being much greater in diameter than the sprocket wheel 17.

The improved mote board is mounted below the saw cylinder and brush cylinder of the gin, as clearly shown by Fig. 1, and consists of a traveling belt or apron 28 having angular projections or flange devices 24 which serve as lags, the belt or apron 23 being secured at opposite sides to chain belts 25 of a specific construction which will be hereinafter explained, said belts being trained over sprocket wheels 26 and 27 respectively mounted on shafts 28 and 29, the shaft 28 being extended through the ends of the gin and engaging bearing devices 30 and 31 located exteriorly of the gin ends, as shown by Fig. 2; and on one end of this shaft is an enlargedsprocket wheel 32 having a chain belt 33 trained thereover and running upwardly to the sprocket wheel 19 on the shaft 15. The improved traveling mote board is disposed at an angle of inclination and extends forwardly and upwardly from the shaft 28, the shaft 29 terminating within the ends of the gin an adapted to have a swinging movement relatively to the shaft 28 which serves as the fulcrum means for the complete mote board and whereby the mote board may be adjusted at its forward upper end, either closer rially avoids bearings 35 for the shaft 28 and to or farther from the gin saws and brush cylinder, as the ginning operation may require. Between the two shafts 28 and 29 at opposite sides of the belt or apron 23 are castings of the form shown by Fig. 4 and comprising elongated body bars 34 with adj u stable bearing blocks 86 held in bifurcations or forks 37 at the forward upper ends of the castings, the adjustable bearing blocks being retained in seats 38 formed in the opposing portions of the bifurcations and engaged by adjusting screws 39. The shaft 29 extends through the adjustable bearing blocks 36, and by means of these blocks the tautness of the chain belts 25 may be readily regulated and simultaneously the belt. or apron is tightened so as to avoid slackness of the belt or apron. At the lower rear end each cast ing has a curved terminal 39 which serves as a guide for the belt or apron and matewear of the latter by coming in contact with a blunt edge, the curvature of the said extremity 39 being such as to relieve the belt or apron of any frictional or wearing contact with the lower rear end 0 the casting. Each casting is similarly constructed or has all of the features just specified, and the beltvor apron 23 and the projections 24 extend over the top portions of the castings close to the inner surfaces of the ends of the gin to drag all seed and trash to the upper front extremity of the mote board and regularly deposit the gathered seed and trash at a point in the gin belowthe said upper end of the mote board.

The chain belts 25 have alternate links 40 with bosses or raised seats 41, as more clearly shown by Fig. 5, and connecting the transversely alined bosses 41 are metal strips 42 over which the belt or apron 23 of suitable material, preferably textile fabric, is applied; and at the points where the said belt or apron engages the metallic strips, base flanges 43 of the projections '24 are secured or riveted through the material of the belt or apron, the strips 42 and the bosses 40, thereby forming a secure association of these arts and tight, joints between the said base flanges 43 and the belt or apron to prevent the accumulation of dust and dirt at the oints where the said base flanges 43 engage the belt or apron. On the centers of the respective shafts 28 and 29 as shown by Fig. 2, belt pulleys 44 and 45 are secured and engaged by a belt 46 of suitable material which is secured to the under side of the belt or apron 23 and serves to prevent the latter from sagging at the center, thereby maintaining an even, fiat surface-of the belt or apron throughout the width of the latter and also holding the projections or angle flanges 24 against warpage or bending. Below the shaft 29, a suitable distance a small shaft or rod 47 is mounted in suitable bearings held by the ends of the gin, as at 48 and 49, the bearing 49 having its edge provided with clutch teeth 50. The bearings 48 and 49 are secured against the ends of the gin and thereby positively prevented from having movement, and particularly the bearing 49. As shown by Fig. 8, a clutch sleeve 51 is mounted to slide on the shaft or rod 47 and has clutch teeth 52 to engage the teeth ofthe bearing 49, the outer terminal of the said clutch, sleeve 51 being formed with radiating or diametrically opposed projections or hand bars 53, as clearly shown by Fig. 2. On the outer extremity of the shaft or rod 47 hearing the clutch sleeve 51 is a stop collar or washer 54, and between the latter and the adjacent end of the sleeve 51 a spring 55 encircles the shaft or rod 47 and operates to' force the said sleeve'normally into engagement with the bearing 49 so that the teeth 52 and 50 become interlocked. The clutch sleeve 51 is splined to the shaft or rod 47, as shown by Fig. 3, and when said the board and machine. Should any sleeve is rotated the rod 47 will be equally rotated therewith. VVit'hin the ends of the gin and fixed on the shaft or rod 47 are collars 56 from which cams 57 project, said cams beingof the form clearly shown by Fig. & and always held in engagement with the lower sides of the bifurcations or forks 37 at the upper forward ends of the castings within the opposite sides and serviiig as the frame supports for the belt or apron '23 and the chain belts 25. The object of the cams 57 is to adjust the mote board as an entirety. As long as the clutch sleeve 51 has its teeth 52 engaging the teeth 50 of the bearing 41-9, turning movement of the shaft or rod 47 will be preventech but by drawing outwardly on the clutch sleeve 51 against the resistance of the spring 55 to disengage the teeth 52 from the teeth 50 the shaft or rod may be rotated and the cam arms 57 correspondingly moved to raise or lower the upper forward extremity of the mote board and thereby modify the distance of the same relatively to the saw and brush cyliiidei's and after the desired adjustment has been made the clutch sleeve 51 is released and is locked by the bearing 49 to thus positively hold the shaft or rod 47 against movement. It will therefore be seen that the sleeve 51 and the bearing 49 serve as a ratchet lock whei'ebythe adjustment of the mote board may be positively retained without liability of the least movement from the position to which it has been moved- At the lower end of the mote board and secured to a part of the backing or rear portion of the gin frame is a fleiiible guard 58 which is free at its lower extremity and overlaps or extends over a part. of the. mote board, as clearly shown by Fig. 1, and prevents the escape of air at this point and avoids interference with the manate of the lint cotton into the flue 12.. The front end of the mote boardis elevated to. within about three or three-and-one-half inches of the saws 10 and should project about oneand-onequarter inches beyond the line of contact of the brush cylinder with the saws. The rear end of the board is lowered, shown, to form a pit and is about twelve or fourteen inches below the open end of the flue 12 leading to the condenser 13. This pit forms an eddy current or very weak draft which permits all heavy particles to drop onto the board, and as the board revolves at about six revolutions per minute, all trash and seed are carried upwardly at an incline by the angle flanges or projections 24 and released over the front elevated extremity of deposited on the floor below or the base support of the gin or ginning lint or light particles of cotton fall upon the board it is taken oif by the draft created by the brush cylinder as it starts to move over the upper elevated end of the board, the air current being very strong at this point or at the front end of the board in view of the small space between the brush cylinder and the board. In other words, this light stuff or lint will be carried backward-1y and forwardly by the air and improved mote board until all trash is taken out and the lint in a clean condition is finally carried back to the condenser.

'Coepei'ating with the improved mote board and located above the latter is a brush cleaner or guard 59, consisting of a metal bar bent downwardly at opposite ends and secured to the ends of the gin or other machine and arranged at an anglerel'atively to the brush bristles. This brush cleaner or guard operates to separate every particle of cotton or trash that may hang to the bristles and causes all the heavy particles to fall onto the boarch while all the lint is caught up by the air current and carried back to the condenser. It is preferred that this cleaner or guard be so applied that it will cause all heavy material liberated thereby from the brush bristles to fall upon or strike the improved mote board below as near the lower or rear end of said boardfas possible.

The advantages of the improved mote board attachment as hereinbefore explained are manifold, and among others may be specified a more efi'ective separation of the seed and trash or other heavy matter. from the cotton than is possible by the ordinary form of mote board. The loss of lint cotton is materially less by the use of the improved mote board and backlashing is positively stopped and controlled. Choking of the lint fine is also avoided and above all else the grade of lint cotton passing into the fine is much better than by the use of the ordinary mote board and the quantity, in view of the diminished loss of the lint cotton, of the output of the gin or ginning device is increased.

What is claimed as new is:

1. The combination with a ginning machine having ginningdevices, of a traveling mote board disposed under the said ginning devices at a forward upward angle.

2. The combination with a ginning machine having ginning devices, of a traveling mote board disposed under the said ginning devices and arranged at an upward angle of inclination and having a rear fulcrum to per-v init swinging movement thereof.

3'. The combination with a ginning machine having ginning devices, of a traveling mote board disposed under the ginning devices and arranged at an upward angle of inclination from the rear toward the forward extremity thereof.

4. The combination with a ginning machinehaving ginning devices, of a traveling mote board disposed under said ginning devices and having an adjustable swinging movement.

5. The combination with a ginning mar chine having ginning devices, of a traveling mote board disposed at an upward and forward angle of inclination under the ginning devices and provided with means for raising and lowering the front extremity thereof rel atively to the said devices.

6. The combination with a ginning machine having ginning devices and a rear lint fine or outlet, of a traveling mote board arranged under the ginning devices at an upwardvand forward angle of inclination, the lower extremity of the mote board being below the lint flue or outlet.

7. The combination with a ginning machine having ginning devices and a rear lint flue or outlet, of a traveling mote board arranged at an upward, and forward angle of inclination. under the ginning devices and having its rear end below the said lint flue or outlet, and a flexible guard overlapping and bearing upon the lower rear extremity of the mote board.

8. The combination with a ginning machine having saws and a brush cylinder, of a traveling mote board arranged at an upward and forward angle of inclination under the saws and brush cylinder, disposed cleaner in position for engagement by the brush bristles.

9. The combination with a ginning machine having ginning devices, of a traveling mote board disposed at an upward and forward angle of inclination under the ginning devices, and a manually operable shaft carrying cam means to engage the forward extremity of the mote board to raise and lower the latter relatively to the said ginning devices. V

10. The combination with a ginning-machine having ginning devices, of a traveling mote board disposed at an upward and forward angle of inclination under the ginning devices, a manually operable shaft carrying cam means to engage the forward elevated extremity of the mote board to raise and lower the latter relatively to the ginning devices, and means for locking the said shaft and cam means against movement after ad justlnent.

11. The com ination with a ginning ma-,

chine having ginning devices, of a traveling mote board comprising opposite chain belts and sprocket wheels, shafts carrying said sprocket wheels, the chain belts being provided at intervals with links having projecting bosses, an apron extending over the chain belts, strips introduced between the bosses and the apron, and angular projec- Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the and an angularly' above the mote board and tions having base flanges secured to the said apron, strips and bosses to form tight joints at the points wherethe apron is connected to the chain belts through the bosses.

12. The combination with a ginning mav chine having ginning devices, of a traveling mote board comprising shafts with sprocket wheels thereon at opposite extremities, chain belts engaging said sprocket wheels, a continuous apron secured to and movable with '70 the chain belts and provided with transversely extending angular projections forming lags, pulleys on the intermediate portions of the shafts, and an intermediate belt secured to the inner side of the apron and engaging the said pulleys to prevent the intermediate portion of the apron and the angular projections from sagging.

13. The combination witha ginning machine having ginning devices, of a traveling 8O mote board comprising shafts at opposite extremities provided with sprocket wheels, endless chain belts engaging the said sprocket wheels and having a continuous apron with angular projections secured thereto, castings at opposite ends of the mote board having forked forward extremities ith adjustable bearing blocks therein to receive the forward shaft, the opposite extremities 'of the castings being formed with hearing devices to receive the other shaft and also provided with downwardly curved guard extremities, and means for adjusting the said blocks.

l t. The combination with a ginning machine having ginning devices, of a traveling mote board disposed under the ginning devices and comprising shafts at opposite extremities having sprocket wheels, endless chain belts engaging the sprocket wheels and having an endless apron with angular proj ections secured thereto, end castings having forward forks with bearing devices for the forward shaft, the opposite extremities of the castings also having bearing devices for engagement by the rear shaft, and a manually operative shaft carrying cam devices to engage the under sides of the said forks of the castings to raise and lower the forward extremity of the mote board relatively to the ginning devices, the mote board having a swinging operation on the rear shaft.

.In testimony whereof I have hereunto set myhand in presence'of two subscribing witnesses.

' JOHN M. wnsrnnoox.

Witnesses: I

G. E. SMITH, H. S, GRAHAM.

Gommissioner of Eatents.

Washington, I). C. 

